Impact: Implementation of a multisectoral programme to improve Indigenous adolescent mental health in Brazil and Dominica

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Abstract developed by Indigenous youths consulted for the proposal.WHY WE NEED THIS STUDY: Many Indigenous people live in Latin America and the Caribbean, most in a situation of poverty.Mental health problems are frequent, including suicide and drug use among teenagers, which we are very concerned about. So for usit is necessary to carry out studies that help adolescents with mental health problems but also respect the Indigenous culture.Adolescence is a complicated life stage, especially for Indigenous people who also experience many problems such as violence,discrimination and less resources. For these reasons it is common for Indigenous adolescents to have mental health problems, andthis is why it is important that Indigenous health professionals, and other people in the village, are trained to help adolescents who arefacing problems.WHY THIS PROJECT IS DIFFERENT: Researchers often present ready-made research to the village and this generates insecurity inus, due to our lack of knowledge, or because researchers want to impose their knowledge without considering ours, sometimes with acertain contempt, which generates deep dissatisfaction. Therefore, we are pleased that this research has involved us since the projectwas created and that the project will be carried out with us by a team that has already worked in projects with Indigenous people.WHAT THIS STUDY IS PROPOSING: The work in this study will take place in two Indigenous settings in two countries, Brazil andDominica, in four work streams. About 1500 adolescents in 13 schools will take part. In the first work stream, researchers and people of the village, and adolescents, will co-develop mental health promotion messages, to be discussed in conversation circles during school activities.They will also amend a tool that has already been used to help adolescents with mental health problems. In the second work stream, they will train teachers, Indigenous health workers, village Chiefs and other community leaders to incorporate these messages into our school andcommunity activities. They will train teachers and health workers to identify and manage common adolescent mental health problems.In the third work stream, they will train Indigenous young people like ourselves in how to do research, to understand how the programme worked, whether it helped adolescents and how it can be improved. In the fourth work stream, researchers will support Indigenous adolescents and older youths to write and present results of the study to our community, nationally and across the region. Together, we will also organize events on how findings can strengthen the capacity of our schools and health systems to respond to Indigenous adolescent health.WHO WILL BENEFIT: Many will benefit from this study including adolescents and all those who will be trained to implement and evaluate theprogramme. There are also important wider and longer-term benefits of raising awareness of the health and well-being of Indigenouscommunities across the region.